The Sri Lankan Lions are here in India after 8 long years! They have hurt the star studded Indian team in their den on quite a few occasions and it’s time to show what the Indian team really is when they play at home in front of thousands of vociferous Indian fans in the stadium. It’s a long series this time with both the teams clashing each other for 7 times at different venues and the first of those clashes is at Nagpur. The last international game played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur was a nightmare as the home team lost badly to the Aussies in a test match. In fact the Indian team had lost the match even before they got into the ground as they were given a green top - a completely uncharacteristic Indian wicket! That wicket might have been wicked for the Indian batsmen but this time, special efforts have been made to ensure that the Nagpur wicket suits the batsmen by all means!

 

 

The Toss : Toss as always in India is crucial as it gives an undue advantage to the team batting first. A lush green outfield was waiting for the game to begin and all the batsmen need to do is just put the ball in the gap and it should run away to the boundary. India and Rahul Dravid were lucky that the coin had come down in their favour and India was soon batting with Sachin Tendulkar back into action with Virender Sehwag.

Indian Innings : Vaas started off decently but Farveez Maharoof at the other end was taken for some special treatment from Virender Sehwag. Maharoof who had given an impression of being a mean One Day bowler was smacked and smacked for 17 runs, the youngster was immediately changed with Fernando. The two Indian openers were not only going for their shots but were also stealing singles whenever they found the opportunity to do so. A clear intention in their minds, this was a 300+ wicket and they have to take full toll of the 20 overs of fielding restriction. Sachin’s elbow seems to be perfectly fit to take the rigours of big hitting in One Day Cricket as he waited for Fernando’s delivery to come in to him and then played an arrogant lofted flick shot over mid wicket for a six! It was Sachin racing along on his MRF and Viru was for once watching his idol fierce fully dominate the new ball bowlers. Sehwag played a cut shot from the off stump off Vaas and then later went in for a lose shot and Vaas’ cutter was enough to get the nick to the keeper. Sehwag wasted yet another one day innings and it was just another 20 from the man. Then came the surprise out of nowhere, everyone were waiting for the new Indian skipper to walk in but no it was Irfan Pathan instead! Pathan wasted no time in the middle and a no ball from Vaas was picked early by Pathan’s ears and he picked it up on the rise to send it to mid wicket stands for a six. With Sachin into the attacking mode and Irfan playing like an aggressive Pathan, India were going along at a terrific pace. Both batsmen kept on the momentum with their crispy aerial shots. Pathan played with brilliant maturity especially against the big turning Murali where he took runs of him by hitting inside out and with the turn. Soon Sachin reached his 70th One Day fifty and this one was at run-a-ball. Pathan bettered the master by completing his fifty in just 41 balls. By this time both these batsmen had created havoc against the spinners, Chandana suffered the most going for 17 in his 1st over. A century was sure for the taking for the left hander, but Pathan who wasn’t really bothered about that just went with another of his inside out shots and this time he found a fielder at point. Soon after the end of the big partnership, Tendulkar followed suit and he got out to Maharoof playing a tired drive to be caught by the keeper. Tendulkar who was cramping at this time was out in the nervous nineties.

 

With India at 207/3 in a little over 31 overs, Sri Lanka thought they could come back into the game and restrict the total below 300. But the middle order kept on going at the same pace with Dravid finding the gaps at regular intervals. Yuvraj got a bad lbw decision with the ball taking his glove first and then hitting the pads but Dhoni who came in after him played his lusty shots and it was no coming back for the Lankans. Dhoni blasted his way to 38 with 2 big sixes and Dravid batted through the distance and his boundary finding form today was like a dream. India ended at a huge score of 350 with the skipper remaining unbeaten on 85, his knock had come in just 63 balls with one memorable six over covers off Chaminda Vaas. India have batted Sri Lanka out of the game!

Sri Lankan chase : A huge target indeed for any team and however good the wicket might be for batting, chances are slim for any side chasing 350 in just 50 overs. It was no different for Sri Lanka, they lost their first wicket when Pathan’s inswinger knocked Atapattu’s stumps and then it was two dangerous strokeplayers in Jayasuriya and Sangakkara battling it out for some pride. Although boundaries did come from the pacers Pathan, Sree Santh and Agarkar, Sri Lanka never got those sky scraper overs. Harbhajan was introduced into the 11th over itself and he straightaway came round the wicket to Jayasuriya. An arm ball from the Sardar and Sanath flashed it straight to Dravid at covers, Lanka were now 74/2. Sangakkara’s breezy knock came to an end too as he gifted Sehwag with an easy return catch. Sangakkara was out for a promising 43 which did have 2 sixes. With the ball gripping the surface and taking quick turn, Dravid got in Murali Kartik, the super sub into the attack. Harbhajan and Murali Kartik just demolished the Lankan middle order with a good mix of flight and variations in pace. The pair picked up 6 wickets between them and Sri Lanka were heading towards a huge defeat. A 50-runs partnership between old warhorse Chaminda and super sub Dilhara Lokuhettige delayed the inevitable. Debutant Sree Santh got the chance of picking up the last 2 wickets and that’s it India completed a massive 152 run win.

 

Rahul Dravid was given the Man of the Match award for his cool knock. He admitted that he was nervous at the start of the Indian innings but Sachin and Pathan eased the pressure with that thrilling century partnership. India are 1-0 up but with the series being a long one, there’s plenty of cricket to be played in the coming days. The next match being at Mohali could be different because of being a day night affair and the pace bowlers might have some influence in this match atleast.